FootyPop: The Orlando Pride Are The 2024 NWSL Champions

In this week’s women’s soccer news, the Orlando Pride capped off a great season by winning the NWSL Championship; the NWSL expansion search is down to three cities; Michele Kang made a massive donation to U.S. Soccer; and more!

High of the Week

The Orlando Pride are the 2024 NWSL Champions. They capped off an incredible season by defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0 in the 2024 NWSL Championship. Barbra Banda scored the lone goal for the Pride. Orlando was the best team all season finishing with only two losses in the entire season.

THE BEST TEAM IN @NWSL HISTORY 🏆 pic.twitter.com/60vGL6QEiU

— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) November 24, 2024

Low of the Week

Manchester City was dealt a big injury blow with Lauren Hemp undergoing knee surgery. Up until suffering the injury Hemp had been having a great season having scored two goals and tallied seven assists. There’s no timetable for her return.

We can confirm that Lauren Hemp has undergone a successful knee surgery.

🔗 https://t.co/PZyzKuWpuv pic.twitter.com/BQqkmXkDhG

— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) November 19, 2024 

News of the Week

During Championship weekend, the NWSL commissioner, Jessica Berman, announced that the finalists for the next expansion team are down to three cities. Those cities are Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Denver. ESPN also reported this week that basketball star, Caitlin Clark, has joined the ownership bid to bring a team to Cincinnati.

#NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman says the expansion process is down to three: Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Denver. That’s the first public acknowledgement of the finalists.

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) November 22, 2024

Win of the Week

Michele Kang is continuing to invest in women’s soccer. U.S. Soccer announced that Kang will donate $30 million over five years. The money will be used to create more youth opportunities and improve talent identification, and professional development. It will create over 100,000 opportunities for women in soccer.

Michele Kang’s generous and historic donation will further U.S. Soccer’s work in service to women’s soccer programs at all levels and in all capacities – on and off the pitch.

The investment from Kang will provide resources to impact generations of young female athletes.

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) November 19, 2024 

Goal of the Week

Allie George scored an impressive goal from a difficult angle to send Virginia Tech to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history.

ALLIE GEORGE. OUT OF THIS WORLD. pic.twitter.com/1iSGPbEDHm

— Virginia Tech Women’s Soccer (@HokiesWSoccer) November 25, 2024

Player of the Week

Sara Wojdelko came up huge for Vanderbilt against Florida State. She made a career-high 14 saves to keep Vanderbilt in the game. In the penalty shootout, she made back-to-back saves to send the Commodores to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

ACCESS: DENIED ❌#NCAASoccer #SCTop10 x 🎥 ESPN+ / @VandySoccer pic.twitter.com/lw1WhXr7V2

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 23, 2024 

Upset of the Week

Vanderbilt pulled off the biggest upset in college soccer when they knocked off the defending champions, Florida State, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was a back-and-forth match with a lot of goals. Regulation and overtime ended with the match tied at 3-3. In penalty kicks Vanderbilt came out on top 4-3.

THIS FEELING >>#NCAASoccer x 📸 @VandySoccer pic.twitter.com/9klO7H7aT3

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 23, 2024 

What To Look Forward To

The USWNT is back in action this week with friendlies against England and the Netherlands to close out the year. Emma Hayes has chosen a young roster to give the veterans some rest so it will be exciting to see. It also marks the first time that Lily Yohannes has joined the roster since announcing that she would represent the USWNT.

Your final #USWNT roster of 2024 ✌️

— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 18, 2024

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